Jacob stood himself off the ground, "Have you seen these people Tariana? They can do that by simply waving a stick, does that seem normal to you?" he could feel himself getting angry as well. This was new, he'd never fully had a blow out with Tari, it appeared there would be one now though. He looked back towards the castle, "Do you think any of them wanted to be abnormal like that?" hearing her say there was nothing wrong with their lives he stood in shock, staring at her. How would she know that? Did she talk to all them? There was more to life then what you were. Did she seriously think these people had perfect lives? He nearly scoffed. There was no such thing as perfect.

"Yes, it seems normal to me! Magic is all I've ever known, seeing as I have been able to 'wave a stick' and do magic all my life, too!" She exclaimed. "Does that make me even more of a freak to you, Jacob Black?" She let out another growl, her hands balling up into fists. "There's nothing abnormal about it to them! They've all known magic too! Magic comes in handy, whether you believe it or not! Don't you hear how ignorant you sound?! You know NOTHING of magic, you naive little wolf boy!"

Jacob shook his head, she could call him what she wanted, he looked up at her and caught her gaze with his. "No Tariana, that doesn't make you more of I freak. I have never thought of you as a freak. I'm a freak. It's not normal to be able to transform." he gave his head a small shake, he wasn't sure how he was remaining clam right now. "And you think I sound ignorant? I might know NOTHING about magic, but listen to yourselves. You think those peoples lives are perfect? Have you talked o the Harry kid? He has lost all his family. Is that perfect?" he could feel himself shaking again. "What about the pale kid? He's so bitter something MUST have happened to him. There is NO such thing as perfect." he was tempted to turn his back and leave but knew he shouldn't. He had to stick it through, it would only make things worse for later.

Tariana was mad. No, not mad; livid. "Well then," Tariana said curtly. "You seem to know so much, Jacob Black. More than you need to know to be working for me. So how about I do you a favor? You're fired." She took a step back. "And this thing between us is over. We're over, Jacob. Any last words?" They had never faught before; she didn't know what to think, other than the raging hot emotions that poured through her veins. Tariana didn't know it was possible to be mad at Jacob, truly mad, but she was.

Jacob shook his head, this was ridiculous, maybe she wasn't who he thought she was. He looked at her, he could see the hatred pouring off her in angry waves. He wasn't so mad anymore, he loved her still of course, but maybe she was right. Maybe they just weren't suited for each other. "Yeah, tell your dad I'm sorry." he replied, before turning on his heels and transforming to run through the forest, he needed to pack. Why stay here? He wasn't needed. He'd go home, visit friends then who knows what else. Jake could feel a whimper rising in his throat but held it back. He would not cry out.

Tariana watched as he ran from her. Coward, running from his problems. He was some big bad wolf, why couldn't he stand up to his problems? She was so angry that she turned and punch a tree, the large oak ripping in half from the impact. She merely stepped to the side, avoiding being hit as the tree fell to the ground with a loud booming sound that shook the earth beneath her feet. She stood there for minutes, hours alone, staring out into the darkness. But then, as if a light were turned on, it hit her. Jacob was gone. She had broken up with him, fired him, destroyed their relationship all because a conversation got heated and didn't go her way. As if she didn't hate herself before, she hated herself all the more then. Dropping to the ground, she sobbed angry cries. "COME BACK, YOU COWARD!" she shrieked at Jacob, pounding her fists into the earth. But she knew he probably wouldn't come. Her probably hated her. Pulling her hands out of the ground, she didn't even bother to rub the dirt off as she curled up in a ball and cried until there was no engery left in her body, and her eyes drooped shut in sleep. In her dream she dreamt of Jacob, that he was right in front of her. She ran to him, but he disappeared. He appeared further away from her, but as she took off for him, he again was gone.
As he was in real life.

Jake could hear Tariana call after him in the distance but he didn't stop. He needed out. He wanted to talk to Embry and Quil before one, or both, were sent to replace him. He stopped for a moment and looked back, he was tempted to run back but no, that would be worse than just running. He howled angrily and snapped the nearest tree in half. The occupants of this forest probably hated him. But why should he care? He sighed, he also needed to write a letter to Mr. Zakir. He'd definitely be disappointed at the outcome of the evening. But was he to do? She sent him away, so away he'd go.

NEXT DAY

Tariana woke the next morning to the feeling of rain falling on her face. Great. Just great. Her eyes flashed open to take in her water-soaked form. Letting out a groan of annoyance, she quickly stood up and left the forest, walking back into the school. Once she was within its dry corridors, she took out her wand and flicked it at her body; she was dry before she could blink again. She took the stairs to the Gryffindor common room, barking the password at the fat lady. Once she was inside she flung herself onto the couch, staring into the fire. She looked rough; her hair was a mess, her skin was pale, her eyes were rimmed in red and she had dark circles under them. She sat there for a while, replaying what happened the night before and wondering what would happen now.

Jacob sat on the edge of his bed staring at the floor in front of him. He heard movement in the beds around him and stood. He didn't want to deal with questions. He grabbed his trunk and carefully carried it down the stairs, Dumbledore set up a floo network thing for him. He would eat a little food then be headed home...without Tariana. The thought sent a pang through his chest but he shook it off, he couldn't dwell now. He had to keep busy. He couldn't crash over a girl...not again. Reaching the bottom of the stairs he stopped. There she was...laying on the couch, her eyes red and puffy. Was that his fault?

Tariana heard Jacob before she saw him, so she was able to brace herself for what was coming. Quickly she sat up, blinking away the redness in her eyes. "Good morning," she said curtly, not meeting his eyes. "I see you're all ready to go, then."

Jacob cleared his throat awkwardly. "Yeah, Dumbledore sending me back after breakfast..." he trailed off, he wasn't sure what else to say which was weird, considering he used to never be able to shut up around her. He shook his head and sat his trunk down for a moment.

Tariana's left eyebrow shot up. "Dumbledore is allowing you to leave?" She stood up, moving to stand by the fire. Her arms were crossed as the flame's reflections flickered across her face; she looked like a true predator. But the reality of the situation was that if someone ripped her up, all they'd have to do was throw her into that fire and she'd be gone.

Jacob nodded and averted his eyes, he couldn't look at her, she was too beautiful. "Yeah, I talked to him last night..." he didn't finish the sentence, she could fill it in as well, she'd been there had she not? "I explained bits of the situation, he didn't need to know the whole thing, and he agreed it'd be best if I left." he glanced at her before looking down again. "I was only here to protect you, that is no longer my positition."

Even if he didn't look at her, Tariana still kept her eyes locked on Jacob's face. "Is leaving what you really want to do?" she asked quietly, her voice just barely a murmur. She felt small, alone. Helpless. It wasn't comforting, this cold feeling she was experiencing. It wasn't anything she enjoyed.

Jacob leaned against the wall behind him and sighed slightly. "I don't know Tariana...it's not what I want, not really. But it's what you want." he replied, at least it had been last night. Had it changed? He sincerely doubted it.

Tariana's mind flew back to yesterday, when she had admitted to Jacob outright that she loved him. She had told him to prove it to her, prove that he was the one she should be with. That seemed so far away, like it had happened years ago instead of hours. "So you're just going to give up? Not prove to me that I want you to stay? I would have expected more from you, Jacob; you've never been one to step down from a challenge. Why so keen to surrender now?" She didn't want him to leave, but her pride wouldn't allow her to tell him that. Tariana wanted nothing more than for him to rush across the room, pull her into his arms, and kiss her with such passion that it would leave her breathless. Yet there they stood, far apart from each other, letting their pride get the best of them. She refused to give up; Tariana was always the one to fling herself forward first. But this time she refrained, keeping her stature tall and straight as her violet eyes blazed into Jacob's face.

Jake shook his head, he couldn't fight with her again. "I told you before, I was here until you asked me to leave. It seemed like that was what was being said last night." he wasn't one to push when he knew he was unwanted, had there been a slight chance, he would've tried now. But he didn't see a chance. Was she trying to open one? And if so, how was he supposed to identify it? He looked down at his watch it was almost time to go.

Tariana kicked her foot against the floor. Her eyes fell to the ground. "I didn't ask you to leave, really; I told you to," she said smally. "Does that make a difference? It does to me; Asking and telling are two different things." Seriously?! When was the big wolf boy going to take a hint? This was her way of apologizing! She was freakin' letting her gaurd down and he was acting like a blind person who couldn't see it! Oh honestly, she wanted to throw her hands up in the air in annoyance and scoff. Wolf boy was clueless, and vampire-human girl was annoyed by it.

Jacob with held a chuckle, was she seriously asking that? "Yeah, there is a difference, telling is even more definite." he lifted his trunk, he had to get going now before he gave in. She was obviously wanting him to say he'd stay, but he wasn't going to do it unless she came right out and said it. He wasn't putting himself out there to get shut down. Just in case he was wrong. He closed the distance between them and gave her a hug, kissing the top of her head, and grabbing his trunk. "I'll see you around I guess Tari. Embry or Quil should be here later today." and with that he was out the portrait hole and headed towards the great hall.

Harry woke up to the sound of muffled voices down in the common room. Groggily, he grabbed his glasses off the nightstand beside his bed and put them on so he could see. He got up slowly and changed into his school uniform. After he was done, he headed for the door, running a hand through his dark, unruly hair; there was no point in trying to brush it because it never would stay down.

As he descended the stairs, the voices became clearer and more familiar to him, and he recognized the voices as Tariana's and Jacob's. They sounded a bit upset. Harry slowed his pace, not really wanting to interrupt their conversation yet curious all the same. He reached the common room just as Jacob left through the portrait hole.

"Everything okay?" he asked Tariana hesitantly, doubting the answer would be good.

Tariana stood there stiff as Jacob hugged and kissed her. She was frozen in her place as reality sat in. He was leaving. Really leaving.
Harry appeared next to her, but she didn't really notice him. "Excuse me," she murmured, brushing past him and following Jacob out of the common room. She caught up to him, not touching him and keeping her space. She stood still as she said, "Send Embry to take your place. Quil can't be apart from Claire, so there's no reason to consider sending him. Embry will come. I want Embry."
All emotion dripped off her face as she stood tall and still like a statue. Her expression was hard and set, her eyes like violet jewels in her face. Her hair fell perfectly around her; she looked like a fallen angel. All she was missing was her wings.
And her heart.

Jacob turned to look at her and nodded his head, "I'll send him." he replied, before turning back and continuing down the stairs, he needed to tell Dumbledore, plus needed to store his trunk, he had no actual intentions of leaving. He only wanted Tariana to think he was. He'd be outside the castle in the woods, guarding her while she hunted. Embry, as weird as it was, was sort of queasy when it came to blood.

Embry stepped out of the flames and held out a hand to steady himself, Jake was already outside in his new home, so he wouldn't be able to sneak away to see him yet. For now he needed to find Tariana. It felt weird knowing he had Jacob's job. He didn't even know what fully happened but he was intent on finding it out. He nodded his head to the old man and headed towards the Gryffindor common room, keeping in mind she wasn't supposed to know Jake was still around.

Once Jacob was gone, Tariana backed up against the wall, sliding down until she touched the ground. She was all cried out so she wasn't going to cry; she refused. Instead she sat there, listening to the sounds of humans sleeping. But then, she heard someone coming down the hall, the sound familiar. Could it be...? No, he wouldn't be there that soon. But he was; Embry turned the corner, and Tariana's face exploded in a grin as she threw herself into his arms. "Embry!" she exclaimed, blinking back tears of joy. "Oh my God, you're here! I've missed you so much!" She squeezed him for a moment and then pulled back so she could meet his dark eyes. God, he looked a lot like Jacob, except he was a little shorter and not as muscular. Quickly she whipped away her tears and beamed up at him. "Thank you so much for coming."

Embry chuckled as Tari attacked him with a hug. He hugged her back, it was so great to see her! "Tariana!" he replied, matching her voice. "I missed you too!" he smiled at her as she stepped back. He could see unshed tears as she wiped away some that escaped. Things must've been worse off then he thought. "Is everything okay Tariana?"

Tariana blinked quickly, keeping the tears from falling. She put on her happy mask, lying ever so smoothly. "I'm fine, much better now that you're here!" She took him by the arm and led him down the hall, away from the common room; she didn't feel like going back to explain herself to Harry. Jacob was gone now; Harry would catch on soon enough. "So catch me up; what have I missed while I was gone? How are the boys?" The wolf pack members were as close to family, brothers, as she had ever gotten. She loved them all so much, even the unlovable one, Paul. She even loved the girl wolf, Leah.